Audible Editor Reviews

On September 11, 2001, author Michael Benfante’s heroic actions during the devastating terrorist attack on New York’s World Trade Center catapulted him to national fame; but the grim circumstances of his publicity haunted him in the years that followed. Ten years after the fact, Benfante published Reluctant Hero, a thoughtful and deeply moving treatise on loss, grief, and the psychological damage that he and many other Americans have endured since that fateful day.

Chris Ruen’s measured performance of this memoir provides much-needed grounding for the heavy emotionality of this valuable narrative.

Publisher's Summary

After nearly 10 years of conflicted silence, a celebrated 9/11 survivor describes what it was like for him living with memories of 9/11 for the past decade.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Michael Benfante went to work, just like he had day after day, at his office on 81st floor in the World Trade Center North Tower. Moments after the first plane struck, just 12 floors above him, Benfante organized his terrified employees, getting them out of the office and moving down the stairwells. On his way down, he and another co-worker encountered a woman in a wheelchair on the 68th floor. Benfante, the woman, and Benfante's co-worker then embarked on a 96-minute odyssey of escape - the two men carrying the woman down 68 flights of stairs, out of the North Tower, and into an ambulance that rushed her to safety just minutes before the tower imploded.

A CBS video camera caught Benfante just as he got out of the building, and almost immediately, the national media came calling. Benfante sat on the couch with Oprah Winfrey, where she hailed him as a hero. Almost one year to the day after 9/11, Benfante got married, and the woman in the wheelchair sat in the front row.

That's the storybook ending. But in the aftermath of 9/11, Benfante began a journey fraught with wrenching personal challenges of critical, emotional, and psychological depth which he captures here in Reluctant Hero. Benfante shares the trappings of his public heroism, the loneliness of his private anguish, and the hope he finds for himself and for us. Because all of us - whether we were in the towers in New York City or someplace else - are 9/11 survivors.

I'm sure we've all wondered what is was like to "be there." This book will help you understand -- as much as any of us can -- what it felt like to be in the middle of the chaos and carnage; a first-hand account of the worst terrorist attack on US soil.

Although the book isn't superbly written in the purest sense, it makes up for any linguistic deficiencies with its honesty and openness. The writer describes, in intimate detail, the personal downward spiral he experienced as the result of the 9/11 disaster he lived through. He is very honest about the impact such a trauma took on him and how it affected his behavior and relationships. It's both moving and gut-wrenching

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Julia

28/12/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"After The Horrors"

We all remember that dreadful day don't we? Were you at work? At school? Perhaps on the other side of the world? Did you put your hand over your mouth in an attempt to muffle the silent screams because you could not believe the horrific scenes unfolding in front of your unbelieving eyes? We watched slowly trying to comprehend the sights that made our minds signal silent messages " This is just a night mare.WAKE UP".

Days passed and we learned the worst.....oh such sadness. Such devastation. Tears ducts that dried up. Another funeral. Another WHY, WHY, WHY.

Then slowly but surely we started to hear about acts of sacrifice. Those stories about the rarest of the rare. Human beings who for no reason other than for for the fact that they have a soul and are in 'touch' with their humanity gave of their selves. Risking their lives to help a total stranger.

This is just one of those special stories about a special guy.

You would expect that his life would be filled with joy,good luck, showered with awards, honors, financial gifts and other accolades. NO. You couldn't be more wrong.

Michael Benfante went to hell and back again. He is a true hero as not only did he save a life but he saved himself. This book will save others too. Michael YOU are a WINNER.

Chris Ruen gives an excellent performance which brings such value.

Not to be missed.

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